[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ITALIAN-AMERICAN LEADERS IN MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 16, 1997

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two great 
Italian-American community leaders in southeastern Michigan, Judge 
Michael Martone and Dr. Augustine Perrotta. Each has been named 
Metropolitan Detroit's 1997 Italian-American of the Year by the Italian 
Study Club.
  Judge Martone, the son of a first generation Italian-American, was 
elected to the district court bench in 1992. He created the Court in 
the Schools-Critical Life Choices, a program that relocates his 
courtroom to local schools. Students witness defendants being fined, 
punished, or jailed for drunk driving, drug possession, and other 
crimes.
  The second part of the judge's program includes an interactive dialog 
about what the students witnessed and the lessons they can learn.
  Judge Martone, whose program has been copied by other States and 
featured on NBC's ``Today Show,'' remains very active in the local 
community with his wife Martha and their two sons, Jonathan and James.
  Dr. Augustine Perrotta, a first generation Italian-American born 
after Mount Vesuvius' eruption drove his family from their ancestral 
home in Arienzo, worked his way through college and medical school, 
graduating as valedictorian of his medical school class.
  Named the ``Top Doc'' by Detroit Monthly Magazine in 1995, Dr. 
Perrotta is a leader in the medical community serving on the boards of 
numerous hospitals in southeastern Michigan.
  His philosophy of practice has been to use humor as medicine and he 
is well known for maintaining Italian traditions in his home. His 
hospitality, warmth, and kindness are not only enjoyed by his wife 
Grace and their three children, but each and every one of his patients.
  Judge Martone and Dr. Perrotta are outstanding community leaders. As 
we enjoy the 23d annual Festa Italiana, I want to recommend them and 
thank them for their longtime service and loyal commitment to our 
community.

                          ____________________